Odulf

Thanks for this supplementary info! There is still a lot to learn about Imperial Austrian uniforms

Thank you Gents for your opinions, and yes I share the opinion of Uwe that the guy is named Franz. However, it is a peculiar portrait for the following reasons: - The shoulderboards look different from ordinary Army issue, also - considering the little metal crest between the pips - could this be a Stabsmusikmeister or is the shadow/light playing trics? - The Sam Browne belt looks like laquered black leather, instead of brown. - He is wearing the old style (Reichswehr) Dienstrock with 8 buttons and the old style hat with the 1st pattern eagle. - From the right shoulder, the old (1934) pattern aiguilette; in June 1935 a new pattern with 2 metal tips, was introduced but the old Achselband was allowed to be worn for some time. In 1938 (after thhis picture was taken) for Army bandmasters a red-silver Aguilette was introduced.

Member of a Telegraph unit with the Iron Cross of Merit 1916 (without Crown)

A most interesting postcard of the IC, made up by soldiers' shoulderboards in the shape of an Iron Cross. (I wonder what happened to the original...) The text explains: The original is a wall cloth compiled from many shoulderboards of the German Army, in posession of His Imperial and Royal Highness the Crown Prince of the German Empire and Prussia. Produced in the Workshop of Oswals Heinrich, Chemnitz i/S.

Recently I added this portrait to my collection, a Captain with the scarce Cross of Loyalty of the Freikorps von Neufville (Schwarze Garde / Black Guard) in combination with the German Horseman's Badge (Christmas 1937). Is it possible to identify this chap?

WW1 Christmas cards with the IC

Please note my earlier contribution: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/files/file/35-insignia-of-the-us-armed-force-in-ww2/ Here it says: "Forces of France training with U.S. Troops"

Interesting combination of badges on this wedding-dress: Flotten-Kriegsabzeichen Zerstörer-Abzeichen Laufbahnzeichen = Bootsmannsmaat Sonderausbildungsabzeichen: Geschützführer für Seeziel- und Flakartillerie, klein Fahrzeugen [Gun Commander for Sea and A.A. Artillery, small vessels] & Sperrvormann [Mines expert]

Some Luftwaffe-Flak "hard ware"

Not Luftwaffe but Waffen-SS Leichte Flak in the field

The diamond and the horizontal stripes are so called "Battle Patches". The red diamond indicates the Brigade within the 32nd Division, the number of bars indicate the unit (2nd Manchesters) and the colour of the bars indicate the Company: A Coy = red B Coy = green C Coy = yellow D Coy = blue HQ = black It is strange that he does not wear the battle patch of the 32nd Division (5 rings placed as the 5 on a dice), but instead a patch with the title MANCHESTER, but the patch with the 5 rings may have been issued later.

For info on metal shoulder titles, I would advice: "Collecting Metal Shoulder Titles" by R.A. [Ray] Westlake (1996) A very interesting book covering all British Army, RN and RM metal shoulder titles from c. 1900 on. All sorts of variations are pictured and with many details about the units, regiments etc. One of the very best books of this kind and good value for money!

I doubt if these coats are Navy at all.

Thanks Alan, I know what the badge of the Albrechtsorden looks like, but I was referring to the device on the ribbon bar.

@ Prussian: Are you interested in cloth insigina, metal insignia or both? The Davis book appears often on militaria markets in Holland, I could keep an eye out for you. @ Jerry B: I use now the revised edition of this valued book. First edition 1983, 2nd edition 1992 with ammendments and corrections. ISBN 1-85409-159-X

Thanks for your input here Alan! I cannot find in my books that the crown and swords device was worn on the ribbon of the Albrechtsorden.... (but most books are very obscure about ribbons and ribbon bars) can you guide me here?

You could have a point there, but what other ribbons bear a crown with crossed swords?

A bit faded, but that is not uncommon for a 110+ years old photo (postcard size) Royal Artillery Militia men and an Engineer of the Militia. The Gunners wear the full-dress tunic with nine buttons down the front of the blue coat. Their collar is in red, piped with yellow, while the coat is piped red. Austrian knots on the lower sleeves are in yellow as are the crossed-gun badges (for gunnery instructor), diamond and stars (efficiency badges for Militia). The Engineer, standing left, wears a five buttons red coat with blue velvet facings and gold lace on his cuffs and elswhere, indicating he is a Sergeant. The grenade over his chevrons indicate he is an Engineer. The picture was taken in the last decade of the 19th century, or a little later, because the reverse (address side) is undivided until 1902.

The DSC was issued unnamed, some owners had the decoration privately inscribed with their name on the reverse.

I would say: British, Royal Artillery, As the beret (General Service Cap) is of uniform cloth, it is a non-armoured unit. The cap badge is a grenade, this was worn by light Artillery units such as: Anti-Aircraft, Surveyors, Anti-Tank, etc. (Heavy Artillery would wear the field gun as a beret badge).

A (yet) unidentified Luftwaffe Lt-Colonel

As I am mainly concerned with other organisations (RAD, postal, Railways, etc.) ..., is this also of interest within this topic?

I have some, but I must find them first and digetalize. But I can show you this nice portrait.

Proud to wear his EK1 & EK2 on his wedding dress

A nice portrait of a Reichsmarine Ingenieur (ranking equal with Lieutenant) who obviously served as a senior NCO in the Great War. His decorations: EK1 - EK2 - DA - Oldenburg FA-Cross 2nd Cl.